Serving in a New Land an Orientation and Appraisal for Religious Workers Coming to Australia Copyright © 2011 Published by the Community Relations Commission For a multicultural NSW This report is available on the internet at the following address: www.crc.nsw.gov.au Author: Dr Mark Weston Wall ISBN 978-0-9807913-0-3 Copies of texts, articles and documents used in these materials were made for the purposes of research or study under Part VB of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth). In addition to use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth), any reproduction for the purposes of teaching, learning and research is encouraged. The copyright holder and the author should be properly acknowledged in all extracts and reproductions. Photographs throughout the text are taken by the author. Cover: Anglican Church, Wattle Flat, Central West NSW Jewish Synagogue, North Newtown, Sydney Masjid Darul Imaan Mosque, Arncliffe, Sydney Sze Yup Temple, Glebe, Sydney Other photographs in sequential order: Sydney Buddhist Centre, Sydney, NSW Newtown Baptist Church, Sydney, NSW All Saints Anglican Church, Warwick, QLD Participants in the pilot Serving in a New Land course 1-2 February 2011 Baha’i Temple, Sydney, NSW Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption of Our Lady, Sydney, NSW St Michael’s Melkite Catholic Cathedral, Sydney NSW Lakemba Mosque, Sydney, NSW Country Sunday Mass, Toogoolawah, QLD Acknowledgements This is a partnership project proudly supported by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and the Community Relations Commission For a multicultural New South Wales, through the National Action Plan to Build on Social Cohesion, Harmony and Security. The generous assistance, advice and support of the following individuals are gratefully acknowledged: Bishop Ad Abikaram Mr Richard Acheson Ms Susan Bures AM Mr Mohamad Chams JP Rev Bill Crews AM Bishop John Issam Darwish BSO DD Venerable Thich Phuoc Dat Mr Zrad El-Daoud Sr Giovanni Farquer RSJ Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian AO Mr Joseph Metledge Ms Jonine Penrose-Wall Fr Maurizio Pettena CS Mr Kaylan Ram Mr Khaled Sukkarieh Ms Omeima Sukkarieh Mr Michael Suliman Dr Rosemary Suliman Mr Pasa Unsal Ms Thida Yang Fr Marcelina Youssef ii Acknowledgement of Country In preparing an educational resource and training material for religious workers coming to Australia, it is considered appropriate to include an acknowledgement of the traditional custodians of this country. This is now a growing and important convention in Australian society, and one that continues the age-old practices of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The acknowledgement of country and, when invited to visit a specific clan group’s lands, the welcome to country, conducted by representatives of the traditional custodians, present opportunities for non-Aboriginal people to show respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. Acknowledging traditional custodianship is a means of honouring the original inhabitants of Australia, who first migrated here more than 40,000 years ago, and reflecting on their unique place in Australian culture and history. The protocol rests, in part, on recognition of the relationship between the 600 or so Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clan groups, their spirituality and their land. We acknowledge that Australia is traditionally Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of these people in this land. iii The Duty of Australians ’Tis the duty of Australians, in the bush and in the town, To forever praise their country, but to run no other down; Not to start at every nothing with the boast that bluffs and halts, But to love their young Australia and explain away her faults. Not to lose their heads in triumph, nor be bitter in defeat, Not to rave about the coming of a fighting man – or fleet. When a man or nation visits, in the key-day of its pride, ’Tis the duty of Australians to be kind but dignified. We can worship foreign talent – give our money, hearts and hands, While we send our own, embittered, to win bread in foreign lands. We are great to men who pedal, men who kick or bat the ball, While our duty to the stranger is Australia’s overall. ’Tis our place, when asked directions by a stranger in the land, Not to jerk our thumb and mutter, for he may not understand. We are free and we’re enlightened, but at times we may forget That the grand old-world politeness hasn’t ruined anyone* yet. ’Tis our duty to the stranger – landed maybe an hour – To give all the information and assistance in our power. To give audience to the new chum and to let the old chum wait, Lest his memory be embittered by his first day in the State. ’Tis our duty, when he’s foreign, and his English very young, To find out and take him somewhere where he’ll hear his native tongue. To give him our last spare moment, and our pleasure to defer – He’ll be father of Australians, as our foreign fathers were! Henry Lawson 1867-1922 1909 in Haynes 2002:84 * changed from the original 'England' iv Abstract Background With over 20 million people, from 280 different countries of birth, speaking 300 languages, and following more than 100 religions, Australian society is a multiculture (Hodge & O’Carroll 2006). What allows the society to cohere, as it does, is not a policy of multiculturalism (any more than it would be for one of assimilation), it is a broad-based commitment to the rule of law and, perhaps, a collective aspiration to an Australian way of life. While various attempts have been made to capture, categorise and catalogue this way of life, typically the complexity of the phenomenon defeats even the best social science. Yet life in Australia has a certain flavour, a certain something, that marks it out from life everywhere else. The expatriate returning to these shores recognises ‘home’ just as the five million or more migrants, who have come to Australia since 1947, initially recognise something foreign (MacLeod 2006). Most Australians would argue, generally but usefully, that the Australian way of life is marked by the notion of a ‘fair go’. Exceptions, no matter how graphic, do not knockdown the idea that usually, commonly, ordinarily, most people expect and receive a fair go, most of the time, in most places in the country. It is against the standard of a fair go that we judge the banker, police officer, politician, business manager, religious leader or young person. The standard accords with general experience, sets a benchmark for comparison, and establishes a goal for achievement. Commitment to an ideal or goal is a work in progress, capable of setback and interruption, but also open to facilitation. In an effort to articulate and make concrete the notion of the fair go contributors have, over time, refined a collection of principles, such as freedom of speech, religion and association, which the law makers of the country have largely enshrined in their judgements and legislation. This text, Serving in a New Land: an Orientation and Appraisal for Religious Workers Coming to Australia, takes the idea of a fair go, its constituent principles and supporting laws, and uses them as the basis for a two part educational program for religious workers trained overseas and coming to Australia to work. The text The intention behind the text, and the two programs it supports, is to assist the 1,000 and more overseas educated religious workers, who come to Australia each year, to better understand the Australian context – way of life, laws, multicultural traditions, interfaith customs, intra-faith diversity and secular practices – and thus better serve their own faith community. The text is an educational resource for religious workers coming to Australia and their families and supporters, a curriculum framework for facilitators and educators, and a policy guide for all concerned. The ambit and design of the text, and the materials contained, are based on broad consultation and a multi-faith steering committee oversaw all aspects of development. As an educational resource the text is open to continual improvement, and remains open to contributions from all interested individuals and parties. The first of the two courses, Program A - is a short online course and the second, Program B - is a longer face-to-face course to be completed after arrival in Australia. The two courses are v developmental, not judgemental, and neither is intended to be exhaustive. The principal aim is to assist participants in their ongoing efforts to practice professionally in the Australian context. Program A Program A - Preparing for Australia - is a short, self-paced, online, orientation and self- assessment to assist overseas recruited religious workers prepare for religious work in Australia. The course is entirely didactic, based significantly on the law, and covers: • government and the constitution; • Australian law, civics, culture and citizenship; • family law; • gender and young people; • conflict resolution; • public relations, corporate ethical responsibility and interfaith cooperation; and • continuing professional development. A short self-assessment, comprised of a series of true/false questions, completes the course and an online certificate is issued. Program B Program B - Serving in Australia - contains the syllabus and basic guidance and materials for a two day, face-to-face course for religious workers new to Australia. It is based on the facilitated exploration and discussion of the following topics: • the Australian context; • civics workshop; • supporting families; • conflict, communication and community; • representing your religion; • working with young people; and • continuing professional development. Multi-faith participants and faculty, drawn from the same region, will work together with local/regional specialists to better explore the topics first addressed in Program A. Case studies, local issues and specific problems will fill out the curriculum.